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Abstract:

An image forming apparatus includes an image output unit that outputs an
image to a continuous paper; a generator that generates an image based on
a print instruction by executing drawing processing; a determining unit
that determines an image layout to output a plurality of images on the
continuous paper in parallel based on at least two print instructions;
and a combining unit that combines the plurality of images generated by
the generator on the basis of the image layout determined by the
determining unit; a controller that controls the image output unit so
that the plurality of images combined by the combining unit is output to
the continuous paper.

Claims:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:an image output unit that outputs
an image to a continuous paper;a generator that generates an image based
on a print instruction by executing drawing processing;a determining unit
that determines an image layout to output a plurality of images on the
continuous paper in parallel based on at least two print instructions;a
combining unit that combines the plurality of images generated by the
generator on the basis of the image layout determined by the determining
unit; anda controller that controls the image output unit so that the
plurality of images combined by the combining unit is output to the
continuous paper.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
determining unit determines the image layout so that an area having a
predetermined width is provided between the plurality of images based on
different print instructions.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
determining unit determines the image layout so that an area having a
width based on information from a paper cutting device is provided
between the plurality of images based on different print instructions.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim wherein the determining
unit determines the plurality of print instructions for the plurality of
images arranged in parallel to be included in the output image on the
basis of a paper width of the continuous paper.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
determining unit determines the image layout to output the image
including the plurality of images arranged in parallel on the continuous
paper, in which head positions of the plurality of images based on the
plurality of print instructions are aligned.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a
plurality of images that require different lengths of continuous paper to
be output onto the continuous paper in parallel based on two print
instructions, the determining unit disposes one part of the plurality of
images based on one of the print instructions prior or subsequent to the
other part of the plurality of images based on the other print
instruction.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a
plurality of images are output onto the continuous paper in parallel
based on at least three print instructions, the determining unit
determines a layout of the plurality of images based on the at least
three print instruction so that a total print length of the continuous
paper is shorter than that in the case where the plurality of images are
arranged in an accepted order of the print instructions.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a
notifying unit that notifies a user that the total width of the plurality
of images based on the plurality of print instructions arranged in
parallel to be included in the output image exceeds a width of the
continuous paper.

9. A computer readable medium storing program causing a computer to
execute a process for document processing, the process
comprising:generating an image based on a print instruction by executing
drawing processing;determining an image layout to output a plurality of
images on the continuous paper in parallel based on at least two print
instructions;combining the plurality of images generated in the
generating on the basis of the image layout determined in the
determining; andcontrolling the outputting so that the plurality of
images combined in the combining is output to the continuous paper.

10. A print apparatus comprising:an image output unit that outputs an
image;a generator that generates an image based on a print instruction by
executing drawing processing;a determining unit that determines an image
layout to print a plurality of images on a continuous paper in parallel
based on at least two print instructions;a combining unit that combines
the plurality of images generated by the generator on the basis of the
image layout determined by the determining unit;a controller that
controls the image output unit so that the plurality of images combined
by the combining unit is output; anda printer that prints the image
output from the image output unit onto the continuous paper.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119
from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-218606 filed on Sep. 24, 2009.

[0005]According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided
an image forming apparatus including: an image output unit that outputs
an image to a continuous paper; a generator that generates an image based
on a print instruction by executing drawing processing; a determining
unit that determines an image layout to output a plurality of images on
the continuous paper in parallel based on at least two print
instructions; and a combining unit that combines the plurality of images
generated by the generator on the basis of the image layout determined by
the determining unit; a controller that controls the image output unit so
that the plurality of images combined by the combining unit is output to
the continuous paper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in
detail based on the following figures, wherein:

[0007]FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing the construction of a print
system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of a print
apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the functional
configuration of a controller of the print apparatus according to the
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example when two print jobs of a job
1 and a job 2 are output onto continuous paper in parallel;

[0011]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example when a margin area is
provided between images of plural print jobs which are output in
parallel;

[0012]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a process in which continuous paper onto
which images based on plural print jobs are output in parallel is
processed in a post-processing device;

[0013]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a case where images based on three or
more print jobs are output onto continuous paper in parallel;

[0014]FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a case where images based on plural
print jobs which are different in page width are output onto continuous
paper in parallel;

[0015]FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a case where images based on plural
print jobs which are different in page length are output onto continuous
paper in parallel;

[0016]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a case where a part of an image based
on a print job is disposed before an image based on a print job;

[0017]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a case where a part of the image based
on the print job is disposed after the image based on the print job;

[0018]FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface
displayed on an operation panel when images based on plural print jobs
are output onto continuous paper in parallel;

[0019]FIG. 13A shows an example of an image layout when job head alignment
is not selected;

[0020]FIG. 13B shows an example of the image layout when the job head
alignment is selected;

[0021]FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the print apparatus
1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 15 is a diagram showing seven print jobs transmitted from a
host terminal device to the print apparatus; and

[0023]FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the layout of the print
jobs when the seven print jobs shown in FIG. 15 are automatically
arranged.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024]An exemplary embodiment according to the present invention will be
described with reference to the drawings.

[0025]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the construction of a
print system containing a print apparatus (image forming apparatus) 1
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. This print
system includes a pre-processing device 3, a buffer device 4, the print
device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
a buffer device 5, a post-processing device 6 and a host terminal device
2 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0026]The pre-processing device 3 executes pre-processing such as feed-out
of a recording medium such as print paper, a print sheet or the like
(hereinafter generically referred to as "print paper") which has not yet
been printed, etc. The post-processing device 6 executes post-processing
such as take-up of print paper which has been printed. The buffer devices
4 and 5 are provided to keep tension of print paper between the
pre-processing device 3 and the print apparatus 1 and between the print
apparatus 1 and the post-processing device 6, respectively.

[0027]Next, the schematic configuration of the print apparatus according
to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described
with reference to FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the print apparatus 1
according to this exemplary embodiment includes a controller 10, an
operation panel 19 and a print mechanism unit 20.

[0028]The print mechanism unit 20 is a mechanism for actually executing
print processing on print paper, and functions as an image output unit
for outputting an image onto continuous paper. The operation panel 19 is
a unit for inputting an instruction from an operator, a user or the like,
and displaying a notification to the operator, the user or the like.

[0032]As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 10 is a general-purpose computer
for executing specific processing on the basis of the print control
program by CPU 15. This print control program is read from a storage
medium such as ROM 12, HDD 17 or the like into CPU 15 and executed by CPU
15 to control the operation of the print apparatus 1. The print control
program according to this exemplary embodiment may be recorded in a
recording medium such as CD-ROM or the like, or distributed through a
network.

[0033]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the functional
configuration of the controller 10 in FIG. 2 which is implemented by
executing the print control program described above.

[0034]This controller 10 functions as a print control device. As shown in
FIG. 3, it has a print job accepting unit 31, a drawing processor 32, an
image data memory 33, a layout determining unit 34, a composition
processor 35 and a print controller 36.

[0036]The drawing processor 32 executes drawing processing on the basis of
the print job accepted by the print job accepting unit 31, and generates
image data (raster image data) to be output onto continuous paper. The
drawing processing target data may contain not only data described by PDL
(page-description language), but also data of PDF (Portable Document
Format) document. In this case, the data of the PDF document is directly
interpreted, and subjected to the drawing processing.

[0038]The layout determining unit 34 determines an image layout
(arrangement) for outputting plural image data based on at least two
print jobs onto continuous paper in parallel on the basis of a user's
instruction input through the operation panel 19, post-processing device
information as information from the post-processing device connected to
the print apparatus 1, sheet information such as information of a paper
width of the continuous paper which is set in the print mechanism unit 20
or the like.

[0039]Here, the output onto continuous paper in parallel means that plural
images based on different print jobs are arranged and output in a
direction (main scan direction) perpendicular to a transporting direction
(auxiliary scan direction) of the continuous paper.

[0040]On the basis of the image layout determined by the layout
determining unit 34, the composition processor 35 combines plural image
data which are generated by the drawing processor 32 and stored in the
image data memory 33.

[0042]FIG. 4 shows an example of printed continuous paper onto which the
images based on the plural print jobs are output in parallel as described
above. In the example of FIG. 4, the two print jobs of the job 1 and the
job 2 are output onto the continuous paper in parallel.

[0043]The layout determining unit 34 may be configured to set such a
layout that each margin area required to cut out printed continuous paper
by a slitter (paper cutting device) is arranged between images
corresponding to different print jobs. Specifically, the layout
determining unit 34 may determine the layout of images so that an area
having a predetermined width is provided between images based on
different print jobs. Furthermore, the layout determining unit 34 may
determine the layout of images so that an area having a width based on
information from the slitter is provided between images based on
different print jobs. Still furthermore, the width of the margin area may
be set by a user.

[0044]FIG. 5 shows an example when a margin area is provided between
images of plural print jobs which are output in parallel. In the example
of FIG. 5, a margin area is provided between the job 1 and the job 2.

[0045]FIGS. 6A to D show a process in which continuous paper onto which
images based on plural print jobs are output in parallel as described
above is processed in the post-processing device. FIG. 6A shows
continuous paper onto which the images based on the two print jobs of the
job 1 and the job 2 are output in parallel. The printed continuous paper
is cut out every print job by the slitter (paper cutting device) as shown
in FIG. 6B. Then, the cut-out continuous paper is further cut out into
sheets every page by a burster (page cutting device) as shown in FIG. 6C,
and a print result in which the sheets are successively collated is
obtained as shown in FIG. 6D.

[0046]In the print apparatus 1 of this exemplary embodiment, FIG. 4 to
FIG. 6D show the case that the images based on the two print jobs are
output onto continuous paper in parallel. However, images based on three
or more print jobs may be output onto continuous paper in parallel as
shown in FIG. 7.

[0047]FIGS. 4 to 7 show the case that images based on plural different
print jobs which are equal to one another in page width (the width in the
main scan direction) are output onto continuous paper in parallel.
However, according to the print apparatus 1 of this exemplary embodiment,
images based on plural print jobs which are different in page width as
shown in FIG. 8 may be output onto continuous paper in parallel.
Furthermore, according to the print apparatus 1 of this exemplary
embodiment, images based on plural print jobs which are different in page
length as shown in FIG. 9 may be output onto continuous paper in
parallel. The page length corresponds to the length of each page in the
auxiliary scan direction. In such a case, the total print lengths of the
jobs 1 and 2 are different from each other even when the number of pages
is identical between the jobs 1 and 2. Therefore, a non-printed blank
area occurs in a print area of one of the jobs 1 and 2.

[0048]When image data based on two print jobs which require different
lengths of continuous paper (total print lengths of continuous paper) are
output onto continuous paper in parallel, the layout determining unit 34
may determine an image layout so that a part of the image based on one of
the print jobs is disposed before or after the image based on the other
print job.

[0049]For example, in the example of FIG. 10, when the total print length
required by the job 2 is longer than the total print length required by
the job 1, a part of the image based on the job 2 whose length
corresponds to the half length of the differential length between the
total print lengths required by the job 1 and the job 2 is disposed
before the image based on the job 1. In the example of FIG. 11, a part of
the image based on the job 2 whose length corresponds to the half length
of the differential length between the total print lengths required by
the jobs 1 and 2 is disposed after the image based on the job 1.

[0050]The adjustment of the print length between the plural print jobs is
not executed at all times, but the user may be allowed to select whether
the print length should be adjusted or not. When the adjustment of the
print length is selected by the user, the post-processing may be set not
to be automatically executed, or an alarm for prohibiting the
post-processing may be output.

[0051]FIG. 12 shows an example of a user interface displayed on the
operation panel 19 when images based on plural print jobs are output onto
continuous paper in parallel. The layout determining unit 34 determines
the layout processing of plural images by setting various kinds of
parameters on the basis of an input from a setting screen of the
operation panel 19 as shown in FIG. 12 when the images are output in
parallel.

[0052]In the display example shown in FIG. 12, when "parallel output" is
set to be effective, the parallel output of plural print jobs is
selected, and when "parallel output" is set to be ineffective, a normal
print method of successively outputting each print job is selected.

[0053]Furthermore, "parallel job number" is an item for specifying the
number of print jobs to be output in parallel when "parallel output" is
set to be effective. Here, when a numerical value is selected, the layout
determining unit 34 executes such layout processing that images based on
print jobs whose number corresponds to the selected numerical value are
output in parallel. Here, when "automatic arrangement fitted to paper
width" is selected, the layout determining unit 34 determines plural
print jobs to be output in parallel on the basis of the paper width of
continuous paper.

[0054]When the total of the image widths based on the plural print jobs
which are instructed to be output in parallel exceeds the paper width of
the continuous paper, the layout determining unit 34 notifies this fact.

[0055]Furthermore, "job head alignment" means that plural images to be
output in parallel are output while the heads of the images are aligned
with one another. Here, when the job head alignment is selected, the
layout determining unit 34 determines a layout of images based on plural
print jobs which should be output onto continuous paper in parallel so
that the head positions of the images are aligned with one another. For
example, FIG. 13A shows a case where the job head alignment is not
selected, and FIG. 13B shows a case where the job head alignment is
selected.

[0056]When the job head alignment is executed, the print processing of one
print job is not started until the drawing processing of the other print
job is finished. Furthermore, when the drawing processing of the plural
print jobs can be executed in parallel in the drawing processor 32, the
parallel output processing based on the plural print jobs is started at
the stage that the processing of one print job requiring the longest
drawing processing time is executed by a fixed amount.

[0057]It is calculated in advance how degree of difference (for example,
the difference in page number, paper length) occurs between a non-printed
blank area occurring when the job head alignment is executed and a
non-printed blank area occurring when the job head alignment is not
executed, and it is notified to a user how degree of blank area occurs
needlessly when the job head alignment is executed.

[0058]Furthermore, "mark output for cut" is an item for selecting whether
a mark to be put for cutting in the post-processing device should be
printed or not.

[0059]Furthermore, "select job in conformity with paper width" is an item
for selecting whether print jobs which can be output in parallel with
respect to the paper width of continuous paper currently set in the print
mechanism unit 20 are automatically selected and proposed to a user.
Here, when "select" is selected, the paper width of continuous paper set
in the print mechanism unit 20 is detected, and plural print jobs whose
images can be output in parallel with respect to the detected paper width
are displayed for the user, whereby the user is allowed to select which
print jobs should be executed (i.e., which images of print jobs should be
printed).

[0060]Next, the operation of the print apparatus 1 according to the
exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to the flowchart of FIG. 14. First, when the print job
accepting unit 31 accepts plural print jobs from the host terminal device
2 (step S101), the print job concerned is temporarily stored into a
predetermined storage area (not shown).

[0061]During the above operation, in the layout determining unit 34, print
jobs to be output in parallel are selected on the basis of a user's
instruction from the operation panel 19, post-processing device
information, paper information, etc. (step S102). The following
description will be made on the assumption that the two print jobs of the
print job 1 and the print job 2 are selected as parallel output targets.

[0062]In this case, in the drawing processor 32, the print job 1 and the
print job 2 for which the parallel output is selected are converted to
image data of a raster format and successively stored into the image data
memory 33 (steps S103, S104).

[0063]In the layout determining unit 34, the layout arrangement of the two
image data based on the print jobs 1 and 2 is determined (step S105). In
the composition processor 35, the image data based on the print jobs 1
and 2 are combined every page on the basis of the determined layout
arrangement (step S106).

[0065]The processing of the steps S106 and S107 is repeated until the
output of all the pages of the print jobs 1 and 2 is finished (step
S108).

[0066]In the foregoing description, the print jobs accepted from the host
terminal device 2 are successively processed in an accepting order in the
print apparatus 1. However, the processing of the print jobs may be
executed in an order different from the accepting order.

[0067]In such a case, when plural image data based on at least three print
jobs are output onto continuous paper in parallel/the layout determining
unit 34 determines the layout of the plural images based on the at least
three print jobs so that the total print length is shorter than the case
where the images are arranged in the accepting order of the print jobs.

[0068]However, in order to enable the parallel output as described above,
it is assumed that all the print jobs to be output are converted to image
data of the raster format in the drawing processor 32 and stored in the
image data memory 33.

[0069]The specific description will be described on the assumption that
seven print jobs as shown in FIG. 15 are transmitted from the host
terminal device 2 to the print apparatus 1. In this case, the number of
parallel outputs is set to 2.

[0070]In this case, when the seven print jobs are selected and parallel
output is instructed, the layout determining unit 34 calculates a job
length from the page length and page number of each print job. Then, the
layout determining unit 34 totalizes the job lengths of the seven print
jobs, and calculates the half length of the total job length as an
optimum paper length. The layout determining unit 34 selects a
combination of print jobs from the parallel-output instructed seven print
jobs so that the total job length of the selected combination is nearest
to the optimum paper length. Then, the layout determining unit 34
displays the order of the selected print jobs on the screen of the
operation panel 19 or the like. The print on the continuous paper is
executed on the basis of the layout of the print jobs determined in the
layout determining unit 34. FIG. 16 shows an example of the
thus-determined layout of the print jobs.

[0071]When the difference between the total job lengths at the right and
left sides is equal to a fixed value or more, the layout determining unit
34 may notify the user of this fact. Furthermore, information
representing the order of the print jobs on each of the right and left
columns may be printed on parallel-output information output to the heads
of the right and left columns or the like. When a residual paper amount
is known, the layout determining unit 34 may arrange the print jobs in
conformity with the residual paper amount.

[0072]In the print apparatus 1 according to the exemplary embodiment, a
print method of the print mechanism unit 20 will not be described.
However, the present invention is applicable to any image forming
apparatus irrespective of the print method insofar as the image forming
apparatus outputs an image onto continuous paper, and the present
invention is applicable to a laser printer or an ink jet printer or a
printer using another print method.

[0073]The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the
present invention has been provided for the purpose of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications
and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The
exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain
the skilled in the art to understand the invention for various exemplary
embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the
particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the
invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.